Fluorescent lamp casings

ABSTRACT

A casing for fluorescent lamps having side members each of which includes a longitudinal slot for cooperation with a base member, an end slot for cooperation with an end member and a longitudinal retaining shoulder for cooperation with a diffuser cover.

Unile States Patent 11 1 Szer Sept. 17, 1974 [54] FLUORESCENT LAMP CASINGS 3,200,244 8/1965 Meyer 240 51.11 R x 3,210,534 l0/l965 Kump 240/9 R [76] Inventor- 35 South 3,349,237 10/1967 Jackson 240 5111 R X Cflu1fie1AuStra11a 3,375,322 3/1968 Serio et al 240/5111 R x [22] Filed: Sept. 26, 1973 P Primary Examiner-Joseph F. eters, Jr. [21] Appl 400892 Attorney, Agent, or FirmLettvin & Gerstman [52] 10.8. Cl 240/51.1l R [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl F21s 3/00 58 Field of Search 240/9 R, 51.11 R A 688mg for fluorescent lamps havmg slde members each of which includes a longitudinal slot for coopera- [56] References Cited tion with a base member, an end slot for cooperation UNITED STATES PATENTS with an end member and a longitudinal retaining 2 321 701 6/1943 P 240/51 H R shoulder for cooperation with a diffuser cover.

otter 2,932,728 4/1960 Thomas 240/9 R 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTED I 1914 SHEET. 1 BF 2 PAIENIEDsEP 11914 SHEU 2 or 2 FIG.4

FLUORESCENT LAMP CASINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to casings for fluorescent lamps.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a fluorescent lamp casing provided with upturned side flanges and side members, each of said side members being provided with a longitudinal slotalong one edge.

Lamp arrangements of the kind referred to have a base, side and end walls, and a cover. Within the housing thus formed there are arranged the lamp fittings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, the base is provided with side flanges and the base is preferably of thin metal. Each flange is upturned, along which is placed a side member, and is provided with a longitudinal slot which is arranged to receive the flange and to secure the wooden side member in position.

End members which may be of metal veneered to resemble the wood of the side members, are arranged to fit over or against the side members and the flanges in a neat arrangement, and are secured by screws arranged to enter lamp fittings within the casing.

A cover member which may be of plastic or like material, is placed over the base and its side members fit into the flanges in the top of the side members, and so a neat, compact and attractive casing is provided for the lamp fittings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A clear understanding of the invention may be gathered from a consideration of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective sketch of a single lamp fitting;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a multiple fitting containing a number of fluorescent lamps;

FIG. 3 is an end section;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a side wall;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a casing which is partially broken away; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view, taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings there is shown a base 5, side walls 6, end walls 7 and a cover 8. Within the housing or casing thus formed there are arranged the lamp fittings.

The base 5 is provided with upturned side flanges 9 along which is fixed the side member or wall 6. Each side member is provided with a longitudinal slot 10 which receives the flanges 9 which secures the side members in position. Screws ll secure the end member to a suitable lamp fitting 12 which includes the screw receiving flanges '13. The base 5 is secured to the fitting 12 by the arrangement which includes a spacer sleeve 14, bolt 15 and nut 16.

Each end of each of the side members 6 includes an elongated, end slot 17 which intersects and extends transversely to the longitudinal slot 10. The end slot 17 is formed by a short inside leg 6a and a longer outside leg 6b which cooperate to engage the side flanges 7a of the end member 7 and to laterally position the end member. The longitudinal slot 10 intersects the end slot 17 at a position adjacent the inner leg so that when assembled, the end member side flanges 7a are positioned outwardly of and in overlying relation to said base member flanges 9.

Each lower side edge 8a of the cover 8 is arranged to engage and be retained by a side member support shoulder 60 and the end member flanges 7a overlie or telescopingly engage the end of the cover 8.

When assembled: (l) the base 5 is secured to the fitting 12; (2) the side members are positioned on the base by the cooperation of the longitudinal slot 10 and the base flange 9; (3) the cover 8 engages the shoulder 60 of each side member and is laterally positioned thereby; and (4) the'end member 7 is secured to the fitting by the screw 1 1 and the flanges 7a fit over or telescopingly engage the ends of the cover 8, and the flanges 7a fit within the end slot 17 and fit over the base flanges 9. By virtue of such an assembly, an attractive lamp casing is provided.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A fluorescent lamp casing which includes: a base having a pair of upturned flanges along two opposed edges; a pair of elongated side members each of which has a longitudinal slot along one edge, a slot in each end of each member which slot is oriented transversely to said longitudinal slot, and shoulder means along the edge of the side member opposite said longitudinal slot; a cover which includes end edges and side edges engaging with said shoulder means; end cover means which include side flange means that: telescopingly engage said cover end edges, and fit within said end slot; and means for holding said end cover means member and base member in fixed relation to each other.

2. A fluorescent lamp casing as in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal slot and said end slot intersect and said side flange means overlie said upturned flanges. 

1. A fluorescent lamp casing which includes: a base having a pair of upturned flanges along two opposed edges; a pair of elongated side members each of which has a longitudinal slot along one edge, a slot in each end of each member which slot is oriented transversely to said longitudinal slot, and shoulder means along the edge of the side member opposite said longitudinal slot; a cover which includes end edges and side edges engaging with said shoulder means; end cover means which include side flange means that: telescopingly engage said cover end edges, and fit within said end slot; and means for holding said end cover means member and base member in fixed relation to each other.
 2. A fluorescent lamp casing as in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal slot and said end slot intersect and said side flange means overlie said upturned flanges. 